For small cuts and scratches, cleanse the wound with sterile cotton dipped in warm, soapy water, followed by plain warm water (water from the faucet is safe); then cover with sterile gauze. If the cut is very small, a Band-Aid will do.
If the wound is very dirty, or if it is a deep puncture wound or one caused by firecrackers, the injured person should have an injection of tetanus toxoid to prevent lockjaw. If he has previously been immunized with toxoid (this is true of all men in the Armed Forces), all he meeds is a booster dose. Gently squeeze a puncture wound to encourage bleeding, as this will help dislodge dirt.
Any cut that goes deep into the skin may heal better if it is sewn together. Let your doctor or the nearest hospital emergency room decide for you. Otherwise you may blame yourself, in later years, for an unsightly scar. As an emergency measure, you can draw the edges sr a gaping cut together (after washing it out) with narrow strips of adhesive tape until medical help is available.